Del Mar City Council Meeting Agenda
Del Mar Town Hall
1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, California
May 5, 2026 City Council Meeting
INFORMATION RECEIVED
AFTER THE COUNCIL AGENDA
WAS DISTRIBUTED
(“Red Dots”)
1 Leslie Carrillo
From: Ann Feeney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2026 9:50 AM
To: City Clerk Mail Box
Subject: Red Dot for item 8: CAP update contract
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I am very pleased to see that Del Mar is finally getting ready to accept a proposal for a contract for our Climate Action Plan (CAP) update, since our current CAP was adopted 10 years ago and is very much out of date. I am also pleased that Del Mar has obtained a grant from SANDAG to cover the cost of the CAP update contract. I hope that Del Mar will now move quickly through the process of doing our longoverdue CAP update and will generate a strong CAP in collaboration with Ascent, the recommended contractor. Ascent has worked together with EPIC on the CAP updates for our neighboring cities: Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, so they should be well poised to do Del Mar’s CAP update.
Ann Feeney
Rimini Rd
Member, Sustainability Advisory Committee
May 5, 2026 Item 8
1 Leslie Carrillo
From: Janet Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2026 8:58 AM
To: City Clerk Mail Box; Tracy Martinez; Terry Gaasterland; John Spelich; Dan Quirk Cc: Karen Brindley; Nestor Machado; Ashley Jones; Janet Wilson Subject: Red Dot - Item 12 - Concern Regarding Scope of Staff Report for De Novo Hearing on EP25-049
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Martinez and City Councilmembers,
I am writing regarding the staff report for the de novo hearing on Encroachment Permit 25-049.
The Council’s task at a de novo hearing should be to evaluate the application as presented today and determine whether the current application meets the required findings.
To support that objective, the staff report should contain relevant background and facts tied to the required findings.
This staff report correctly states that the Council’s review is de novo, meaning a new hearing conducted as though the matter had not previously been heard and as though no prior decision had been made, even though prior testimony and materials may remain part of the record.
However, after stating that standard, the staff report includes a long BACKGROUND section covering the 2020 redevelopment condition, a 2021 encroachment permit application, a 2024 code enforcement complaint, an earlier 2025 encroachment application, two prior denials, and a “visual timeline” attachment.
Including extraneous history muddies the de novo presentation and creates a negative focus on past disputes rather than on the merits of the current application.
My specific concerns are that the staff report:
emphasizes prior denials and prior unauthorized work
characterizes the process as a “multi-year process”
includes a visual timeline and other similar encroachments as attachments May 5, 2026 Item 12
2 repeatedly compares the current submittal to prior versions rather than simply evaluating the project as it is now
Staff was unable to make the findings for the current application, and I understand their position. My concern is the amount of extraneous negative history included in the report, especially because I know a great deal of time and positive effort has gone into getting the application to where it is today.
I understand that de novo hearings are relatively rare, but a staff report for a de novo hearing should present a fresh look at the current application, and I hope the Council will evaluate Encroachment Permit 25-049 on that basis.
Thank you,
Janet Wilson
635 Hoska Dr.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
1 Leslie Carrillo
From: Janet Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2026 9:01 AM
To: City Clerk Mail Box; Tracy Martinez; Dan Quirk; John Spelich; Terry Gaasterland Cc: Karen Brindley; Nestor Machado; Ashley Jones; Janet Wilson Subject: Red Dot - Item 12 - Support for Approval of Encroachment Permit EP25-049 Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Martinez and City Councilmembers,
I am writing in support of Encroachment Permit 25-049 and respectfully request that the Council approve the permit.
Staff was unable to make two of the six required findings.
Finding 2: The proposed encroachments would not unreasonably interfere with the intended use of the City right-of-way.
Finding 5: The proposed encroachments would not be detrimental to the interests of the general public.
The staff report explains that the concern is a potential loss of public parking because the proposed surface might give the impression that this portion of the public right-of-way is private property and could deter use of publicly available parking. In other words, the City’s current position appears to be that unless a parking area is asphalted, the public may assume it is for private use.
In this case, that position does not make sense. A fence separates the private yard from the area outside it. Everything inside the fence is clearly private property, and the natural assumption would be that the parking area outside the fence is not private property, even if it is not asphalted.
If there is still concern about public perception, the solution is straightforward. The City could install a “Public Parking” sign and stripe the spaces so it is unmistakably clear that the area remains available to the general public. The staff report includes photos of other non-asphalt parking encroachments, and the same “Public Parking” sign solution could be used there as well, assuming those surfaces are otherwise acceptable.
More broadly, this situation highlights the need to modernize City Council Policy 110 and the City’s approach to parking-related encroachments in the public right-of-way. Del Mar has a parking problem that will only become more challenging, and more homeowners are improving the curb appeal of their properties. It seems reasonable to expand Policy 110 to address this type of parking encroachment so that similar matters can be handled administratively.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
2 In this specific instance, the right-of-way remains public, and the proposed improvement does not interfere with its use. In fact, it should be viewed as a benefit to the community, because a maintained parking surface is more usable and more attractive than a dirt shoulder where people park or walk.
Thank you for your consideration.
Janet Wilson
635 Hoska Dr.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
March 11, 2026
Del Mar City Council
c/o Sarah Krietor, Administrative Services Manager/City Clerk 1050 Camino del Mar
Del Mar, California 92014
[email protected]
VIA IN-PERSON DELIVERY
Re: Additional Information Regarding Appeal of Staff’s Denial of EP25-049 (Rael) 1612 Stratford Way, Del Mar, CA 92014
Dear Ms. Krietor:
Mr. Paul Rael is the applicant and owner of the property at 1612 Stratford Way, Del Mar, directly adjacent to the right-of-way area in question. Mr. Rael seeks to improve the strip of public rightof-way situated between his front property line and the Stratford Way paved roadway. This area is currently comprised of dirt and mulch that is messy and sheets away during the rain. The area looks unfinished and Mr. Rael is hoping to beautify the area at his expense for the benefit of the City and surrounding neighbors.
Regrettably, staff denied application, EP25-049, and indicated that they could only approve an Encroachment Permit if the improvements were 100% constructed of asphalt to match the roadway materials. Such a solution is woefully deficient in tastefulness and aesthetic quality, and is in fact inconsistent with how the Community Plan describes the intended look and feel for local residential streets in Del Mar:
Nearly all of the streets serving internal circulation have an informal "country road" feeling due to the lack of sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, and the growth of private landscaping along the edges of the pavement. This aspect of street design is felt by the community to be a positive aesthetic feature worthy of preservation (Background - Original Page Nos. 43—47).
Since the denial of Encroachment Permit, EP25-049, we have met with City staff to understand their concerns, and we would like the opportunity to put forth a revised EP design to City Council that provides for more of an informal “country road” feeling consistent with the Community Plan.
We therefore ask simply that the City Council determine to hear the appeal so that we may have the opportunity to present our revised design and additional technical information that addresses staff concerns.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
Letter to Del Mar City Council
RE: EP25-049 (Rael)
March 11, 2026
Attached is our revised EP design which includes photo-renderings of an all-asphalt solution and our revised proposal with a grasscrete base covered in a charcoal gray decomposed granite (DG) that is more in keeping with an informal, rural design aesthetic while maintaining on-street public parking. The grasscrete solution stabilizes the dark gray decomposed granite (DG), is vehiclefriendly for parking, and percolates rainwater which the City of Del Mar encourages as lowimpact development. The City’s suggested asphalt solution seems to be all staff has in their toolbox right now to approve and what we are providing offers a new and viable solution for the Village of Del Mar and the City Council to entertain. I think we can all agree that simply paving over the parking shoulder with asphalt, as offered by staff, is not an aesthetic nor functional design solution anyone would want to see here or anywhere throughout the City.
Respectfully,
Attachment: Rael Right-of Way Improvement Plans, prepared 3/9/2026 by W. Dean Meredith, Architect
May 5, 2026 Item 12
NEW ENTRY WALKWAY TO
REPLACE DEMO WALKWAY
NEW RAILING 42"
HIGH ABOVE FIN.
GRADE
(EXISTING HOUSE
EXISTING DRIVEWAY
134.00 ABOVE N.G.
STRATFORD WAY
N72029 W 117.44'
63.8'
135.8'
135
136
140.45'
135.8'
136.5'
F.G.
F.G.
F.G.
135.4' TW
F.G.
FSB
20' - 0"
SYSB
7' - 6"
DEMO-ED (E)
ENTRY
WALKWAY
-
---
LANDSCAPE
W/ BLACK
MULCH
EXISTING
ASPHALT
NEW
4" CONCRETE
CURB
(E) ROCKS
PL
wm
EXISTING 3'-4" CURB AT WEST
NEIGHBOR- SEE PHOTO BELOW
NEW 3'-4" CURB TO CONNECT TO EXISTING
CURB TO THE WEST - SEE DETAIL 5
3' - 4"
PL
PL
PL
3' - 4"
EXISTING PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BLACK MULCH AREA
GRASSCRETE
NEW GRASSCRETE INFILL PER CITY SPECS
-
NEW CONC. CURB 4" WIDE PER CITY
STANDARDS (B-1/G-06 STD DWG)
RAELS PROPERTY
CITY PROPERTY
NEW GRASSCRETE
NEW CONCRETE SWALE
TO MATCH AND ALIGN
WITH NEIGHBOR'S CURB
TO THE WEST
EXISTNG ASPHALT PAVING
4"
2"
4"
3' - 4"
1' - 5"
PROPERTYLINE
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Copyright 2023 W. Dean Meredith Architecture and Planning, Inc. 1 6
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1/4" = 1'-0" 1
SITEPLAN
N
NEW CURB PER
DETAIL 5 ABOVE
EXISTING CURB AT WEST
NEIGHBOR
GRASSCRETE
GRASSCRETE, SEE PHOTO
BELOW. CONTRACTOR TO
MATCH EXISTING
GRASSCRETE AND GRAVEL
SAMPLE ON SITE.
CONTRACTOR TO MATCH
EXISTING GRASSCRETE
AND GRAVEL.
EXISTING 3'-4" CURB
AT WEST NEIGHBOR.
NEW CURB TO EXTEND
TO PROPOSED SITE.
PROPOSED CURB
EXTENSION TO THE
EAST
1 1/2" = 1'-0" 2
SECTION
2 VISUALS THAT DEPICT PRIVATE PROPERTY VS PUBLIC PROPERTY DEL MAR -3'-6” FENCE
-LANDSCAPE ALONG FENCE AND PROPERTY LINE
-CONCRETE CURB - NORMALLY SEEN AT THE EDGE OF A STREET
SAMPLE ON SITE.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
NEW ENTRY WALKWAY TO
REPLACE DEMO WALKWAY
NEW RAILING 42"
HIGH ABOVE FIN.
GRADE
(EXISTING
HOUSE
EXISTING DRIVEWAY
134.00 ABOVE N.G.
STRATFORD WAY
N72029 W 117.44'
63.8'
135.8'
135
136
135.8'
F.G.
F.G.
135.4'
F.G.
FSB
20' - 0"
SYSB
7' - 6"
DEMO-ED (E)
ENTRY
WALKWAY
-
---
LANDSCAPE
W/ BLACK
MULCH
NEW
(E) ROCKS
PL
wm
EXISTING 3'-4" CURB AT WEST
NEIGHBOR- SEE PHOTO BELOW
NEW 3'-4" CURB TO CONNECT TO EXISTING
CURB TO THE WEST - SEE DETAIL 5
3' - 4"
PL
PL
PL
C. SWALE
3' - 4"
EXISTING PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BLACK MULCH AREA
SAFETY
ZONE
5' - 0"
EXIST.
ASPHALT
GRASSCRETE
SAFETY ZONE
5' - 0"
NEW GRASSCRETE INFILL PER CITY SPECS
-
NEW CONC. CURB
4" WIDE PER CITY
STANDARDS (B-1/G06 STD DWG)
LANDSCAPE W/
BLACK MULCH
RAEL'S
PROPERTY
CITY PROPERTY
NEW PAVING
NEW CONCRETE
CURB TO MATCH AND
ALIGN WITH
NEIGHBOR'S CURB
TO THE WEST
EXISTNG ASPHALT PAVING
4"
2"
4"
3' - 4"
1' - 5"
SAFETY ZONE
5' - 0"
PROPERTYLINE
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Copyright 2023 W. Dean Meredith Architecture and Planning, Inc. 1 6
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1/4" = 1'-0"
1 SITEPLAN
1 1/2" = 1'-0" 2
SECTION
-PROPOSED CONCRETE ENTRY PAVERS. WE ARE PROPOSING
TO RELOCATE THE EXISTING ENTRY PAVERS EAST TO THE
NEW ENTRY STRUCTURES AND GATES.
PUBLIC AND CITY OF DEL MAR BENEFITS
-OUR DESIGN CREATES 5' SAFETY BUFFER FOR PEDESTRIANS
TO EXIT STREET, PER DEL MAR REQUIREMENTS.
-PROPOSE A GRASSCRETE BASE WITH CHARCOAL GRAY
DECOMPOSED GRANITE (COLOR TO MATCH THE EXISTING
ASPHALT), APPEARS AS STREET EXTENSION FOR PARKING (NOT
AS PART OF PRIVATE PROPERTY); SUPPORTS VEHICLE LOADS,
STABILIZES GRANITE, ALLOWS WATER PERCOLATION, MORE
AESTHETIC THAN ASPHALT; ECO-FRIENDLY WITH LESS NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
-PROPOSED NEW CONCRETE CURB AND GUTTER
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG FRONTAGE, MATCHING WEST PROPERTY
AND CORNER LOTS; AT RAEL’S EXPENSE, RESOLVES CITY'S
DRAINAGE/RUNOFF ISSUES.
-TWO OFF STREET PARKING SPACES
2 -PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BLACK MULCH AREA
May 5, 2026 Item 12
W Dean Meredith ARCHITECT AIA
P.O. BOX 2142 DEL MAR CALIFORNIA 92014
RAEL RESIDENCE
Copyright 2023 W. Dean Meredith Architecture and Planning, Inc. 1612 Stratford Way DEL MAR CALIFORNIA 92014
3/29/2026 3:35:07 PM
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ASPHALT GRASSCRETE W/ CHARCOAL GRANITE BASE
FOR SAMPLE OF ASPHALT SEE 355 BEL AIR STREET, FOR SAMPLE OF GRASSCRETE SEE RAEL RESIDENCE DEL MAR, CA.
May 5, 2026 Item 12
W Dean Meredith ARCHITECT AIA
P.O. BOX 2142 DEL MAR CALIFORNIA 92014
RAEL RESIDENCE
Copyright 2023 W. Dean Meredith Architecture and Planning, Inc. 1612 Stratford Way DEL MAR CALIFORNIA 92014
3/29/2026 3:35:07 PM
A-4
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